How to Make a Beautiful Crudité Platter

By Suzanne Anderson April 28, 2023 30 mins read 133 Views

The perfect crudite plate is a visual feast, with an array of shapes and colours. This simple tutorial will teach you how to create a crudite plate that is sure to impress all your guests.

It used to be that the crudite plate was the least exciting option for a party snack. A few sliced cucumbers and carrots with a tub of dip in the middle. Yawn.

Crudite plates are now a thing to be excited about. The colours! The colours! The textures!

Making a crudite tray is easy, and it looks impressive. If you make one for a gathering, your guests will oohand ahhbut you alone will know it only took a few moments to put together.

The Best Vegetables to Serve on a Crudite Platter

It takes some planning and thought to create the perfect crudite plate. You need to balance the textures, colours and flavors of the vegetables.

Choose a variety of colours and shapes when choosing vegetables to go on a crudite plate. Include a variety of mild, crunchy and juicy vegetables, as well some with a strong flavour, to make sure there's something for everyone. It goes without saying, that you want your vegetables to be perfect when you go shopping. It's time to get rid of bruises, browning or any vegetables that look past their prime.

The following vegetables are great to add to a crudite plate:

Carrots I think bigger carrots look better than baby carrots on a crudite plate.
Celery
Endives
Baby bell peppers- I love using them in a variety of colors.
Radishes- Large radishes are best sliced thinly for dipping (as in the picture of watermelon radishes), while small radishes should be left whole. Medium radishes may be quartered or halved.
Broccoli florets and cauliflower florets- I prefer them blanched but you can also eat them raw if that's what you like!
Snap Peas- I cut some and left others whole.
Asparagus spears- Blanch them to soften a little.
Green Beans These can be served either raw or blanched.
Jicama slices
Cherry tomato- Leave the tomatoes on the vine to give them a beautiful look.
Artichoke hearts

After you've chosen your vegetables, prepare them to go on the platter. The majority of vegetables can be cut into small pieces for easy dipping. Some you may want to blanch to soften a little.

Dips and Spreads

The dip is as important as vegetables when it comes to making the perfect crudite plate. The best crudite platters are those that offer options. Include at least two dips to give your guests a choice.

You can serve creamy dips, such as ranch dressing or Hummus, alongside crunchier vegetables. Or, for a twist, offer pesto or Guacamole. These are great options for adding variety without overshadowing the vegetables.

Consider these dips and Spreads:

Store bought hummus You can dress it with olive oil, sumac and olive tapenade. You can also make your own hummus if you don't have the time. Try my Perfect Homemade Hummus or Roasted Red Pepper Hummus.
Vegan Feta Dip
Roasted Garlic and White Bean Dip
Vegan Ranch dressing- You can add less liquid to thicken it for dipping.

Add Other Snacks or Garnishes

Crudite platters are not limited to vegetables. Other snacks can also be added to enhance their appeal. Add crackers, pita chip, nuts and olives to your platter for a variety of textures and flavours. But don't overdo it! Crudite boards are about vegetables, not snacks. Accentuate your board with other snacks.

Add some fresh herbs as another option. They add flavour and contrast to your crudite plate with their leafy texture. Fresh basil and tomatoes, or homemade ranch dip with a sprinkle of fresh dill are sure to please!

How to Arrange Beautiful Crudite Plates

Presentation is the key to a stunning crudite platter. Use a large wooden, marble or stone platter or board, but don't make it too large. You want to create the impression of abundance, and a big board with a small amount of food can look uninteresting.

Here are three easy steps for making the perfect crudite plate for a party.

1. Add the Bowls

Place small food (such as olives or nuts), and dips on the board. Three bowls arranged in a triangle will look good visually. Store-bought dips should not be left in their original containers. Transferring them into a bowl makes them look more appealing.

2. Arrange the Large Veggies

Start with the biggest vegetables and then work your way around the board. On the board shown here, I placed long, large vegetables such as carrots and celery around the edge. For a rectangular board you can try arranging the vegetables at different angles to create visual interest.

For a small board, group the same vegetables together to create a uniform look.

3. Fill in the Gaps

Fill in the gaps between the larger vegetables with smaller ones like tomatoes and radishes. Add crackers or chips between the vegetables for a little texture.

Remember that you can always start again if you are not happy with the look of your plate.

How to Serve and Store Your Crudite Plate

After assembling your crudite plate, keep it cold until it's time to serve. You can either assemble the board, wrap it in plastic and refrigerate it or prepare all of the vegetables and dip and then assemble it right before serving. If you have the time, it's best to assemble everything right before serving because it will make things look fresher.

You can store leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days.

Enjoy, friends! Please take a picture and tag #jessicainthekitchen if you make this vegetable platter! Please leave a comment and rate the recipe! Thank you!

How to Make an Easy Crudite Plate

This tutorial shows you how to create a vegetable crudite plate that will impress your guests.

Course Appetizer, Snack

American Cuisine

Prep time twenty minutes

Total time twenty minutes

Servings Servings

Calories 1 178 Kcal

Jessica Hylton Author

Ingredients

Radishes
Snap peas
Bell peppers
Celery
Cherry Tomatoes
Endives
Carrots
Olive Tapenade Hummus 10 oz.
Roasted Garlic Hummus 10 oz.
OPTIONAL: Breads pita chips, crackers, pretzels

Instructions

Cut the tomatoes because they are so small and juicy.
Serve the Olive Tapenade Hummus around the Roasted garlic Hummus in an attractive way (as shown in the pictures). If you wish, serve with breads, pitas chips, pretzels and crackers.
Enjoy and serve!

Notes

It is best to cut the vegetables the day before you plan to serve them. This will keep the color and flavor of the vegetables.
Blanching the broccoli is recommended if you are planning to use it for this dish.
Substitute your favourite dips or vegetables.

Nutrition

Carbohydrates: 20g

How to Make a Beautiful Crudite Platter first appeared on Jessica in the Kitchen.

By: Jessica Hylton
Title: How to Make a Beautiful Crudité Platter
Sourced From: jessicainthekitchen.com/how-to-create-an-easy-crudite-platter/
Published Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2023 05:00:00 +0000

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External Links

How To

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Explore different ways to achieve a balanced lifestyle. You can make delicious vegan baked goods or substitute fish for it. Exploration is key to making food choices that are healthy and delicious.